Bhubaneswar, Sep 11: The Second Additional Sessions Judge of Bhubaneswar has sentenced notorious drug trafficker Chittaranjan Sahu alias Madhu to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh for his involvement in brown sugar trafficking.

Sahu, who once ran an auto garage, was arrested on May 21, 2023, after a dramatic raid by the Special Task Force (STF) at a government quarter in Unit-8, Bhubaneswar. The raid uncovered 1.007 kilograms of brown sugar, valued at approximately ₹2 crore, along with incriminating documents and multiple bank accounts linked to large-scale narcotics transactions.

Following his arrest, Sahu remained in judicial custody for nearly two years while the case was under trial. The court delivered its verdict on Thursday, citing overwhelming evidence including seized contraband, financial records, and witness testimonies.

The STF investigation revealed that Sahu had transitioned from a garage owner to a key player in Odisha’s narcotics network. His operations were sophisticated, involving multiple bank accounts and coordinated supply chains. The seized documents indicated transactions worth lakhs of rupees, confirming his deep involvement in the drug trade.

The conviction can be considered a major victory in Odisha’s ongoing crackdown on narcotics. Law enforcement agencies have intensified surveillance and enforcement against drug mafias operating in urban pockets.